Sunday, May 31, 2015

In Barnet lately (and across the country
thanks to a petition on change.org), there has been a movement among
residents of local council estates who fear being moved away from the area due
to gentrification. The movement gathered a lot of momentum, with 200,000
signing the petition.

The Wednesday before last, they went to the Barnet
Council AGM with the intention of delivering their petition. This plan was
known before the AGM, and it seems that someone decided to mobilise the
police to prepare for the dangerous event of handing over a few boxes of paper.

Upon arrival we were
shocked to find police vans and stacks of metal barricades waiting for
us. We tried to join the AGM but were prevented from
entering the town hall altogether. No reason was given but security guards and
police blocked our entrance.

Through the course of the evening it became
clear that select invites had gone out and the 'public' filling the galleries
had been pre-chosen.

Cllr Richard Cornellius, the head of the council
offered to accept our petitions but would only see two members from each
campaign group. He failed to then present this to the
AGM meaning that our petitions went unrecognised and undiscussed by our elected
councillors.

Our West Hendon petition alone represents the largest petition in the history of Barnet, along with Sweets way. Over 200,000 peoples views went unheard and unrecognised that evening.

Is this what constitutes democracy and
accountability in 2015?”

Indeed.

Meanwhile, the same group that
organised this petition has discovered that the Government’s Minister for
Housing is, in fact, a landlord. Yet another ministerial appointment that
cannot possibly have at heart the interests of the bulk of the people they
supposedly represent.

Contributors

About the authors

Ian: Occasional political blogger, motivated to restart by the outcome of the 2015 election and the need for more reasoned debate and less polarisation. Believer in egalitarianism and in personal freedom. I don't call myself a libertarian any more these days.

Newcastle - Oxford - London - Macclesfield

Glenn:First blogged about student protests in 2010, now back in search of a platform for his left-wing views. Supports voting reform and the NHS. Against austerity and TTIP.